Angus pointed at the vials on the table. "Thought ya just said we weren't clones, Dr. McNamara."
Sheena frowned. "Maybe you're a new type of clone that my saliva test doesn't cover. Maybe Nate has come up with something new to replicate people. Bastard was just as good at genetics as I was, but all he ever wanted was this fucking airship. Well, he finally got her, but she didn't make him very happy after all, now did she? Did you know he's been married five fucking times?"
Angus nodded. "Yes. He confessed as much to Erin. I believe he was trying to woo her when he shared the story. Here. Instant refill."
"Woo her?" Sheena asked, frowning down into her empty cup. Nate hit on Erin? A woman who looked like her? Angus handed her the rest of Erin's drink. Barely two sips were missing. It made her laugh. "Thank you … I guess."
Angus nodded again. "My pleasure. Now as I was saying … I believe Nate was trying to win Erin away from me when he told her. If my Erin's heart wasn't so true, he might even have succeeded. Ya see … I well know I'm a bigger arse than yer Nate ever thought about being. But Erin and I? We're not done with each other yet. In fact, we're just getting started. It's God's truth that I can't imagine what it would be like here without her."
Sheena shook her head. "Your memories and experiences are fascinating. They're as rich as any organic human's. Multi-faceted even. I see what Bri means by your accents. How did that happen to both of you? It's all fascinating. Just fascinating."
Angus snorted at her rambling. "Are you feeling okay, lass?"
Sheena nodded and waved a hand. "I'm fine. Better than ever. My mind just doesn't stop. I really wish I had someone to discuss this with who was involved with how you got here."
Angus reached over and grabbed a giggling Brianna's still nearly full glass. "I can help ya with that, but yer going to need a lot more ale first. Here. Drink yer sister's. She's over her quota already."
Laughing, Sheena glanced at her sister's ale. Tipping her head, she finished off Erin's and handed the empty glass back to Angus who slid the empty in front of Erin then touched her arm.
"Do ya want some more ale, Erin?"
Erin peered into her glass and saw it was empty. "No. One's my limit, Angus. Ya know what happens when I have two."
"Some fancy water with bubbles then?" Angus asked.
"That would be lovely," Erin answered.
Winking at a now snickering Sheena, Angus rose. Sheena caught his arm before he got passed the sofa.
"Bring Bri some water too, Angus. She's full of nanos and they need to be flushed out."
"Nanos? What kind of sickness is that?"
Sheena giggled at his worry. They really were innocent. Who didn't have at least some understanding of modern technology and science? Their programmer must have been following some very specific orders to create them in this condition. She waved his worry away with her free hand.
"Bri will be fine. Nothing a few trips to the bathroom won't cure. Water will help that along."
"If ya say so, lass," Angus declared, patting the giggling Sheena on the back.
Sheena's confused sigh as she sipped her sister's ale was loud enough to be heard even above Erin and Bri laughing.
Moments after Nate briskly knocked, Angus answered the door to Brianna's quarters.
"Evening, Admiral. Sorry to bother ya so late, but Sheena was asking a lot of questions I couldn't answer. I figured it was time to let ya know."
"You said you sent Erin and Brianna to your quarters for the night?"
"They were tired, ya see … and … " Angus stopped explaining when Sheena cleared her throat.
"Get your Admiral ass in here, Nate. I want to talk to you."
Grinning, Angus stepped aside to let a wary Nate cross the threshold.
Nate looked around warily. Sheena was slouched in the chair. Using a hand, she motioned him over. She pointed to the vials on the table in front of her. "Explain that shit to me," she ordered.
Nate ignored the vials and looked at Sheena. He looked back at Angus. "You gave her alien ale, didn't you?"
Angus shrugged. "It seemed polite to offer it since we were all having a toast about finding each other."
"You aren't supposed to be having any ale, Angus. The rejuvenation cylinder can't save your kidneys or liver if you keep up the drinking. I know you don't get this, but it will take months to grow a replacement organ for any transplant. Months you would have to spend visiting medical every day to get your organs flushed. That's a foolish thing to risk for a few measly glasses of ale."